Uber goes to UK tribunal on worker rights

Uber will face an industrial tribunal in the UK as it battles to retain its licence to operate in London.

Uber officials in London answer questions at an event as the app fights to keep its licence there. (AAP)

Uber is expected to tell a British employment appeal tribunal on Wednesday that its drivers are self-employed and not workers entitled to a range of extra benefits.

It comes as London officials threaten to take the app's licence to operate away because of what it says is Uber's slack approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.

It can operate during its appeal, which could last months.

Last year, two drivers successfully argued at a tribunal that Uber exerted significant control over them to provide an on-demand taxi service and had responsibilities in terms of workers' rights.

At the two-day appeal hearing starting on Wednesday Uber will argue its drivers are self-employed and work the same way as those at long-established local taxi firms.

The self-employed are entitled to only basic protections such as health and safety, but workers receive benefits such as the minimum wage, paid holidays and rest breaks.

Those in a third category, called employees, receive all those entitlements as well as other benefits such as statutory sick pay and maternity or paternity leave.

"Almost all taxi and private-hire drivers have been self-employed for decades before our app existed," an Uber spokesman said.

"Uber drivers have more control and are totally free to choose if, when and where they drive with no shifts or minimum hours," he said.

Trade union-led protestors are expected to march through central London on Wednesday against what they deem "precarious labour" in the 'gig economy', where people work for various employers at the same time without fixed contracts.

Uber faces a further challenge as law firm Leigh Day said it would represent a female driver who says Uber is putting her and other women at risk as the driver does not know the passenger's destination until they are already in the car and that could mean travelling to a remote or unsafe area.

An Uber spokesman said drivers could cancel trips without penalty and did not have to go to a particular area if they did not want to.